Credit: Imago

Scott Mason

Fri 3 April 2026 13:10, UK

Nuno Espirito Santo’s sights will be on reaching an FA Cup semi-final with West Ham United, but the quarter-final tie could be decided with a penalty shootout.

With it being a game in a cup competition, the match on Sunday must have a winner, and the possibility of extra time and a penalty shootout will undoubtedly be in both managers’ thinking in the build-up.

West Ham and Leeds progressed into the sixth round of the FA Cup in the same manner as the two Premier League sides did go to a shootout.

That offers another level of intrigue, with the two goalkeepers having recent data to study ahead of the match.

As West Ham take on Leeds, the Irons manager must surely be preparing his side for the chance of spot kicks.

What is West Ham’s penalty shootout record?

West Ham have been involved in 10 penalty shootouts since the 1997-1998 season, and while the phrase “penalties are like a lottery” may not be exactly true, the Hammers are 50/50 in their record.

The Irons have won five and lost five, which does not exactly paint a positive omen ahead of the upcoming FA Cup tie.

However, a further negative omen is provided when you dissect the record across individual campaigns.

Of those 10 penalty shootouts, five of them have come in the FA Cup, and West Ham have a losing record. They have won two and lost three in England’s premier cup competition.

Nuno may be able to provide optimism to his squad, though, as the E20 outfit have won their last four shootouts in all competitions.

Nonetheless, the 40 per cent win rate from spot kicks will mean that Nuno must at least put some focus into his squad practising them on the training ground as an insurance policy.

Who would be West Ham’s penalty takers?

In West Ham’s shootout against Brentford, Jarrod Bowen, Taty Castellanos, Callum Wilson, Tomas Soucek and Konstantinos Mavropanos stepped up to score.

If all five are on the pitch after 120 minutes against Leeds, they will likely be the same names that take a penalty.

Bowen has become West Ham’s penalty taker since Lucas Paqueta left the club. Throughout his career he has netted 75 per cent of his attempts.

Wilson could be handed a start for West Ham, which may put into doubt whether he is on the pitch after 120 minutes.

In the case of Soucek, he is off the back of two shootouts for Czechia in World Cup play-offs. The midfielder scored both of his penalties as his nation qualified for the tournament.

The 31-year-old may be able to lend any advice to his teammates if the game does come down to a decider.